Fall is in the air and a new rug

I am sure enjoying the burst of Fall color in my yard ...

I am enjoying it inside my house too ...

A little bit of sunshine to brighten up the day.

Oh, and did you notice my new area rug? I bought it on Overstock and I am thrilled with the way it looks and feels. It was the one thing that was unfinished from our kitchen remodel. This room is right off the kitchen and it took me a while to find a rug that worked and wasn't too expensive.

Do you have a nice weekend planned? It is almost here!

Happy Friday Everyone!

T.G.I.F.

I love waking up on Fridays to my CSA box ...

There is nothing like having fresh organic vegetables right off the farm!

Happy Friday everyone!

My week

Sneak peek of the move-the-laundry-center project

This has been a short-but-crammed-full-of-work week.  I finished up a long and time consuming project at my mom's house last week (no time to take great photos but a post will follow on that soon) and then headed out of town to visit my daughter - the one with the baby who is almost two!

My younger daughter was also visiting and made us a delicious nectarine crisp from the tree in the backyard ... it was really hard to leave all the fun.

I drove back into town Tuesday morning and immediately started checking up on a few ongoing projects ...

This job has gone out to the upholsterer ...

I stopped by to mark where I wanted the pattern to sit exactly on the dining room chairs and went over a few sofa details. Then I headed over to check on another project ...

The room was wall to wall carpet and it needed to be replaced. We are replacing with a beautiful wood floor and some really fun area rugs ...

LOVE!  Then I headed over to start another project ...

Do you remember this house? We moved the dining room into the old living room space and turned the dining room into a comfortable have-your-morning-cup-of-coffee-read-the-paper-sit-with-the-husband-and-catch-up-on-life room. I had not seen the new area rug yet ... super excited to see how it all came together and even more excited to hear how much the client's love and use this new room.

We are doing some new fun things around the house (some bedroom updates) and adding some more art to the walls. So it was off to the framer and then to a few design stores ...

I don't know how I did it, but I was able to get everything done I needed to and still have time to have a leisurely lunch with a friend:

Today is a full scheduled day - putting out some "fires", picking up more frames, stuffing pillows, measuring for area rugs, selecting fabrics ... 

New pillow covers waiting to be stuffed

More on my list than I think I can get done ... and sooo looking forward to the weekend!

And so excited that I woke up to my first CSA box on my doorstep this morning!

Happy Friday everyone!!!

White Horses

I am obsessed with white horses.  They are nature at it's best I think (or maybe it is just that inner princess in me). And if I could, I would have a real one in my backyard. Instead, I just purchased this from Apples and Oats Photography. It will be my second one.

I had them make me a canvas last year and it greets me when I walk in my front door. Love!

Can you believe it is Friday already - this week just flew by for me! No complaints here ...

Have a great weekend everyone!

Happy Friday

Have a great weekend everyone :D

A pretty bouquet

 I saw this sign at the grocery store this week ...

It was in front of their floral department. Nice!

I love having flowers in my house - they bring in a little bit of happiness. And they are nice to come home to after a long day of work. 

I sure am enjoying the flowers left from the wedding last weekend! And I am excited that another weekend is almost here ...
Happy Friday everyone!

Work | Play

work

play

I had a very productive work week and I am looking forward to a fun weekend. Hope you are too! Happy Friday everyone!

A great salad, some new fabrics and a new job.

Did you have a nice day off yesterday? We spent the evening with our good friends that happen to be our neighbors. We acted like kids and lit sparklers in the front yard. We had a fabulous dinner and I forgot to take photos like I had planned ...

I made this salad (I found it on Lisa Mende's blog) and it was everything I had hoped it would be. But don't believe the prep time. It says 10 minutes. It took me hours!

I also spent a little time getting some fabric selections organized. I will be having some pillows made for a couple of clients. When I am selecting fabrics there is more to consider besides the color and pattern or texture. 

Two of the clients I am selecting fabrics for right now have dogs. Dogs that live right on their upholstery. So I have to find something with a durable content like 100% polyester.

Oh yeah ... this is what I love to see - 100,000 double rubs. 

Today I will be helping a client get their house ready to rent as a vacation home. It is a lot like staging a house to sell - a lot of editing and removing the client's belongings and bringing in things to make the renters feel pampered and at home. For example, I will be setting up a breakfast station on the dining room hutch instead of the family photos that line it now, making seating areas outside with new rugs and crisp new market umbrellas, putting clean white fluffy towels in the bathrooms, and generally making sure everything looks like a five star hotel. And I am super excited to be working with my new assistant, Allison!

 One more day until the weekend! Happy Friday everyone!

Staying cool

It is supposed to be a scorcher this weekend here in Southern California. We live close to the ocean but even here it is predicted to be hot.

I am thankful that a couple of weeks ago I picked up a new market umbrella to help shade our courtyard. 

The view from my office

It helps shade our living room from the hot morning sun and also helps my office stay cooler. I found the umbrella at Costco, and at less than $120 it was well priced. But what sold me was that it was made with Sunbrella fabric. That will help keep the nice color longer and it should hold up well for many years. 

I hope wherever you are the weather is bearable ... 

Happy Friday everyone!

Go Bears!

I am getting ready to take my youngest daughter on a little road trip to celebrate her graduation (last December) from Cal. I bought the bear planter at the cutest little shop in Seal Beach called, The Little Shop because it reminded me of her (and the Cal bear ... Go Bears!!!). I am going to try to post our trip for the next couple weeks from my iPad - that is my intention anyway ... I will keep you "posted"!

Whatever you are doing, I hope you are having a wonderful day ... Happy Friday everyone!

Happy Friday

It is a beautiful sunny day here in Long Beach this morning ... and the weekend is right around the corner!

Happy Friday Everyone!